Group rides at night - yay or nay?

[mark st1]

Lonesome Lane near Gatwick on a mild dry night under the stars is one of the best cycling experiences I've ever had.

Don't knock night riding till you've tried it.

 

[PeteXXX]

A few of us are out for an Off Road ride this evening.. I think we'll have about 7,000 lumens between us so it should be bright enough!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Yes, cycling at night or very early in the morning can be wonderful, which is why I always recommend it!

 

[ColinJ]

A few of us are out for an Off Road ride this evening.. I think we'll have about 7,000 lumens between us so it should be bright enough!

Not if there are 100 of you!

I'm certainly not going to be doing much night riding over the coming winter but if I can get a decent front light*** for not too much cash then maybe I will give a night ride a go on a warm midsummer night next year. I don't think I would like it, but I'll never know for sure unless I try. Pretty much every night ride that I have done has been cold and wet, and my front light(s) have not been up to the job.



*** One bright enough for 30-40 mph descents. The kind of places that I would go have no street lights, rough road surfaces, and fast downhills.

 

[tyred]

I'm not much of a group riding person but enjoy night riding. Don't see a problem but if I was organising it flashing lights and helmet mounted lights would be expressly forbidden

 

[burntoutbanger]

I quite like riding at night, have only done it solo to date though. I never ride as quickly at night and try to avoid fast descents.

Don't think I would really like to ride in a tight group at night, a loose one? Maybe.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I need my beauty sleep

It hasn't worked yet tho'.

 

[Soltydog]

If there's a pint at the end then it's probably an evening ride.

If you find a very good cafe stop you can have a pint in the morning, so I've heard
If you have experienced ride leaders then group night rides are safe enough ie the Fridays, but if there are no experienced leadees I'd avoid. I've been on some where it wasn't fun

 

[ColinJ]

I'm not much of a group riding person but enjoy night riding. Don't see a problem but if I was organising it flashing lights and helmet mounted lights would be expressly forbidden

I would ban excessively bright rear lights, having been dazzled by them in the past.

I think an extra helmet-mounted light is handy for seeing where your main lights are not pointing. I have used one in the past to persuade stupid oncoming motorists to dip their lights. Without exception, they dipped after I shone the light straight at them, and then flicked the beam down.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I quite like riding at dusk, watching the sun set and the gloom gathering.

Riding at night can be lovely, especially with a full moon or with dark skies and all the stars showing. Don't like the idea of riding in the dark if there is the chance of ice tho'.

 

[Bazzer]

Love riding a night; for me I can feel senses almost tingling especially on unlit roads. Mrs B not happy with them following me having an incident with a badger last year.
As I think it was @Fab Foodie said, cycling's dark secret.
Sod going for a pint at the end of the ride; get a natural high when the roads are empty of almost everyone after the pubs have shut.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

@Sandra6 as said above, night riding is great fun, out of evening rush hours of course.
What do you mean by unexperienced riders? Won't there be a leader and a back marker?
We are doing an evening Halloween ride, but the group will be lead and mostly on cycle paths or cycle lanes.
If you feel in danger, just leave the ride.

 

[dim]

I always ride solo .... I'm too nervous when people ride a few inches behind my back wheel (I paid lots for my bikes) .... so riding in a group at night is a no-no for me

I become aggressive when I'm riding solo in daylight and someone tries to wheel hug me

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Possibly. My local social group do a shortish ride (about 13 miles all in) midweek around a gravel path near to me called the greenway, it connects three nearby towns. You just need a bike that doesn't have road wheels / tyres, it finishes with a few pints at the pub, and it gets people off their arses and away from the telly, what's not to like about that? I like what you're doing, it'll probably be fine, and as it involves bikes it'll probably be fun.
Not all group rides have to be mega organised chain gangs in lycra. Go for it.

 

[mjr]

If there's a pint at the end then it's probably an evening ride.

Only if it's a short one, else there should be a pint in the middle too!